3

"You're sure this guy doesn't mind?" I ask as we climb into the elevator, while Andrew reaches over to poke the button for the fourth floor. "I feel guilty for invading his space."

"There are no other rooms, dude. What else are you going to do?"

"I don't know, dude, " I say, and he scoffs at my mocking tone. "Camp on the beach, maybe."

"Yeah? Did you bring a tent?" Even his eyes are sarcastic as he glances at the single bag slung over my shoulder.

"I'll make a sand igloo… a sandgloo."

"That's a good way to wake up with crabs."

"You'd know," I counter, then yelp when he punches my arm. We both chuckle, and I run my hand over the faint sting as the doors ding open.

"Tai is Cho's cousin, and I've only met him a few times, but he's a chill guy. You'll get along fine." The elevator opens and Cho stands in a doorway, dividing her attention between whoever she's speaking with inside and our approach in the hallway, her feet straddling the threshold.

Once we make it to the door and say hello, my ears perk up at the pad of light footsteps from behind me, and I turn. Conversation fades into a murmur as my focus snags on a fair, slender frame with long, ebony hair.

Holy fuck, she's pretty .

I'm momentarily speechless, then do a double take as they look up from the ground and I realize it's a guy. Cho smiles fondly at him. "Connor, meet Tai, your roomie for the week."

"Hi," he says, his gentle voice melodic and smooth, just a touch breathy as his eyes travel up to my face. His thin lips tilt up in a half smile that I can't help returning.

He's…

Well, he's undeniably attractive. Gorgeous, even, and I'm secure enough in my masculinity to acknowledge it. High cheekbones, a slender nose, and waist-length, flowing black hair that's slightly damp. Lean bodied and pale skinned with a pink flush to his cheeks that suggests he spent too much time in the sun recently.

But it's his eyes that draw me in. They're a warm brown, the color of sunlight shining through a glass of cognac.

Despite my initial impression, he isn't overly feminine. He has a defined jaw and prominent Adam's apple, and long, elegant fingers on hands that appear to be as large as mine, if thinner.

My cheeks burn as I realize I'm staring, and I hurry to return his greeting. "Hi."

Not exactly poetry, but it's something.

His smile spreads as I step forward and offer my hand, his soft against the abused, rough skin of my palms.

It's… nice.

The room has a subtle aroma of blueberries and mint as he releases my hand and steps aside, letting me by. "You're sure you don't mind me crashing here?" I ask, turning to glance at him over my shoulder. "Honestly, I feel terrible about it, and I know you were probably looking forward to some privacy, and if it's a huge inconvenience, I can..."

"Hey," he says, placing a soft hand on my forearm that instantly calms me and stops my spiral, refocusing my attention on his face. "Really, it's fine. It isn't your fault."

"I'm an easy houseguest, I swear." With a heavy thud, my bag lands on the empty bed, and I cringe at the noise. Grace and poise aren't exactly my areas of expertise. I turn back to Tai, only to find him still watching me with an unreadable calm.

Cho chuckles from the door before she says, "He was just relieved to hear I wasn't setting him up with a rowdy frat boy."

"Oh, hell no... no way," I insist, and the slight tension in his shoulders eases. "Honestly, I'm pretty fucking dull if you want to know the truth."

Tai's eyes catch mine, a touch of humor in them. "You don't look very dull to me," he muses, and I huff a laugh as he gestures at my torso. "I doubt a dull man would wear that. " We both glance down at my favorite Bigfoot shirt, sporting matching grins when we glance back up.

Andrew clears his throat from his spot in the hallway, and everyone's attention shifts to him. "We've got to head downstairs for dinner, but you guys have a few minutes to unpack and get comfortable. All good here?"

"All good," Tai says, that musical voice almost a song as it leaves him.

"Alright, see you both shortly." Andrew nods as he and Cho wave goodbye and walk away.

A quiet settles between us that borders on awkward, so I fidget as I try to fill the silence. Stillness is another struggle for me. "So, did you, uh… get some sun?"

His face lights up with a grin, his straight teeth shining through his easy smile. It's… charming. "Yeah, I accidentally fell asleep on the beach earlier. With this skin tone? I'm lucky it isn't worse than this."

My eyes wander out the windows, staring longingly at the rolling water with its white crests, sparkling like diamonds in the sun. "It's been too long since I've seen the ocean."

"Let's go, then." My head tilts in question as he gestures at the breathtaking scenery. "The ocean is right outside your doorstep. Take advantage of it."

"Yeah, okay, that sounds…" An alarm on my phone blares, and I groan as I realize it's time for dinner. "How about after we eat? We could go to the beach later, uh, together, if you're not too… tired? I mean, only if you want to go… with me. You don't have to come…"

Fuck, when did I get so awkward?

"No, no, I will," he says quickly, his fingers anxiously toying with the button on his shirt before he abruptly lets go, his hands now hanging loosely by his side. "I love the water. That was the extent of my plan for the entire week, actually—to relax by the ocean. Or to read in here while listening to the ocean. Maybe have a few drinks…"

"Let me guess… by the ocean?" I interrupt, and he lights up in another giant grin.

"Pretty and smart," he teases, before he flushes and bites his smile between his teeth.

And he thinks I'm the pretty one?

I bump his shoulder with mine, catching a whiff of blueberries. "Come on. You won't think I'm so pretty when you see my horrible table manners."

"Think you can scare me off that easily, huh?" He bumps me back and I grin as I hold the door open for him.

As we make our way to dinner, a peaceful silence settles between us, and I resist the temptation to break it with idle chatter. We walk into the restaurant and spot Cho and Andrew waving us over to where the rest of the bridal party waits. Cho grabs Tai by the arm and drags him to the chair beside her, and he tosses me an apologetic smile as she leads him away.

Taking a seat on the groom's side of the table, I chuckle at the sight of all the girls swooning over Tai. Unfazed by the attention, his serene demeanor never slips, even as they fawn over his hair and gush about the purple suit he'll wear for the wedding.

I slip into a grin when I picture him in it.

If anyone could rock that shit, it'd be him. I'd end up looking like pastel Barney, but he'll manage to make it look dignified.

Conversation strikes up around me, starting with the awkward small talk strangers make when they don't know what else to say to each other. Andrew and I have been close since college, but everyone else is a stranger to me. I've never had trouble making friends, though, and by the time dinner is served, I have two separate discussions flowing with the men on either side of me.

Tai's eyes meet mine briefly a few times across the table, and each time he flashes a small, sweet grin before resuming his conversation with the other bridesmaids. He looks away and my gaze slides down his chest and over his arm. The redhead to his left giggles so loud it makes me cringe, flipping her hair as she grabs his wrist, and the uncomfortable way he stiffens causes my blood to boil.

Something ugly inside me flares, recognizing the signs of someone being on the wrong end of an unwanted touch. My fists clench, and I'm pushing my chair from the table before I realize what I'm doing.

Tai's eyes lock with mine, a command in them. Down boy, they silently say, and I force myself to listen. With a single fluid motion, he disentangles his arm from her hold, his smile never faltering.

And then this fucker winks at me and causes my brain to go fuzzy.

A breathy laugh escapes my lips as I relax in my seat, shaking my head to myself. He is a grown man who can take care of himself.

Why am I treating him like some damsel in distress?

Because you have a hero complex, dumbass, I think with a small smile as I focus back on my food.

Dinner is three courses and delicious, followed by a slice of caramel cheesecake that has my pants sitting snug around my middle. Once a socially acceptable amount of time has passed, I make eye contact with Tai and give a subtle nod towards the door.

Relief floods his face as he nods back, and he leans over to whisper to Cho as I turn to Andrew. "Hey, man, the drive wiped me out, so I'm going to call it a night if that's okay. Recharge by the water and stretch out for a while. Walk off some of these calories," I add with a pat to my belly.

"Yeah, of course," he says, tossing a lazy hug over my shoulders before I stand and move towards the door. An idea snags me as I pass by the bar, and I glance back and forth to scan my surroundings. Satisfied that no one is watching, I reach over the counter and swipe the first bottle I wrap my fingers around.

The evening is warm as I walk outside, and I only wait a minute before Tai joins me. "I didn't pull you away before you were ready, did I?"

"Nah," he says, falling into step beside me. "Honestly, I was glad to escape. Girl talk isn't exactly how I was hoping to spend my first night of vacation."

I chuckle as we head in the direction of the crashing waves. The sun's descent towards the horizon transforms the sky into a masterpiece, with strokes of color that resemble a painting. Oranges and pinks bleed into the blue, and I take a deep inhale, breathing in the calm.

"Hope you like…" I glance at the bottle in my hand, then bark out a booming laugh. "Banana rum."

Tai laughs, the first real one I've heard from him, and it's just as honey smooth as his voice. "Where the hell did you even get that?"

I shrug, grinning as we step onto the sand and simultaneously kick our sandals off beside the boardwalk. "Swiped it from the bar. This place is all-inclusive, so it doesn't really count as stealing…"

"Hold up a second! You told me… no, actually, you swore to me you aren't a party crazy frat boy, and the first thing you do is swipe a bottle of liquor. Banana liquor." Tai's lips twitch in a suppressed grin as I laugh again.

"Touché," I say, still chuckling.

"You have a loud laugh," Tai remarks, causing me to blush like an embarrassed teenager.

"Ah, yeah, I do everything loud." I drag my palm over the back of my neck. "Sorry."

"No, it wasn't a complaint," he hurries to say. "It's nice… feels genuine." Unsure of how to respond, I simply let a smile spread across my face as we beeline towards the shore. We walk past the rows of chairs and step ankle deep into the ocean, where the chill of the water sends an involuntary shiver up my spine.

The silence makes me antsy, and as I open my mouth to speak, I glance over at Tai. He's the picture of serenity, eyes closed as he soaks in the dying rays from the setting sun.

There's a certain beauty in the stillness.

Rather than filling the quiet with meaningless words, I take a page from his book and choose to be present in the moment.

I just… exist.

My eyes close and I soak in the sensations—the warmth of the sun brushing my face as the chilly tide dances at my feet. The breeze is cool off the water, and my hair kicks in the wind as it whips around me.

"This is nice," I finally say, and open my eyes to find Tai watching me curiously.

"C'mon," he says, grabbing my wrist with a gentle hand and tugging me towards the chairs in the sand. "If we're going to drink rebellious teenager stolen liquor, we need to be sitting when we do it. I'm too old to get drunk in the ocean."

Another of my loud laughs echoes over the water as we walk. "Too old, my ass. What are you, twenty-five?"

He arches a high brow in my direction. "You're sweet, but no. I'm thirty-seven."

"What the fuck, dude!" I skid to a halt as he turns to me with amusement on his face. "Seriously, what the actual fuck? I'm only four years older than you, and I look old enough to be your dad."

He rolls his eyes. "Hardly. If Cho hadn't told me you were in your forties, I would've pegged you at my age."

"Yeah, okay," I mutter, acutely aware of the silver streaks in my hair and the wrinkles that line my eyes and forehead.

Tai's gaze sweeps over my frame before it flickers with a mischievous glint. "Oh, come on, man. Don't play coy and pretend you're clueless about how good you look. I mean, mirrors are a thing, and it's obvious you've hit the gym a time or two in your life."

I snort, involuntarily flexing my muscles like a douche now that I'm aware he's watching. "Once or twice."

We drop onto the chairs, kicking back and falling into another comfortable silence as the sun dips under the horizon. The sky's oranges and pinks morph into purples and dusty twilight blue. The bottle's metal lid cracks as I twist it open, and as I bring it to my mouth, I'm hit with a powerful punch of liquor that makes me flinch.

"C'mon, old man, don't tell me you're going to chicken out now," Tai says, humor lining his words.

"Old man," I mutter as I shake my head, touching the glass rim to my lips. "I'll show you old man." Initially, the alcohol is sweet on my tongue, but scorches as it slides down my throat.

Holy shit.

I cough as I pound my chest, wheezing as I say, "Fuck, I forgot how much that burns." Tai throws his head back and laughs, and I'm tempted to do it again just to hear the musical timbre of his laughter.

His eyes find mine again, and his face is relaxed and free from the tension he's been carrying since we first met. "Alright, then, tough guy," I say as I pass him the bottle, "show me what you're made of."

He smirks as he lifts the rum to his mouth, taking a long swig before handing it back to me, perfectly poised. My brows shoot up in surprise when he finally coughs. "Fuck, I tried," he rasps, thumping his own chest as he chokes. "Goddamn, that is terrible !"

We laugh until tears streak our cheeks, passing the bottle back and forth as we watch the final moments of the sunset. The more drinks we take, the easier it goes down, until there's a pleasant heat in my belly and a slight tingle to my limbs.

"So," I say, my voice too loud in the serene darkness. Tai glances over at me, the faint light from the resort shining off the angles of his face. "Tell me more about you… unlock the mystery that is Tai. What do you do for a living?"

Tai's expression sours, and he sways a little as he sits up and turns sideways on his lounger. Feet in the sand, he leans forward with his elbows on his knees, shaking his head. "Nope."

"Nope?"

"This week, I don't want to think about work or real life. I just want to be here… be present." His face wrinkles up as he thinks. "I have rules."

I roll over onto my side, propping my face up on my hand. "Alright, lay them on me."

"First, obviously, is we don't discuss our jobs. You're not Connor the plumber—"

"Not a plumber," I point out, and he glares.

"I don't want to know!"

"What if I was a plumber, though, and you accidentally guessed it like that? Your plan really would've backfired, huh?"

He tries to scowl at me, but it's an epic failure. "You are testing me, old man." Another laugh booms out of my chest, and he gives up trying to do anything but grin. "That's rule number one—no discussing work."

"Easy enough," I say, rolling my hand for him to continue. "What else?"

"Complete honesty… no secrets."

"Except for our jobs, apparently," I muse as I bring the bottle to my mouth for another sip.

Liquid sloshes as Tai snatches it away from me and takes a long swig. "You're a smartass."

"Guilty as charged."

He shakes his head as he settles back into his lounger, staring up at the stars emerging across the darkening sky. "Seriously, though… if we tell each other anything, it's the truth. None of this half-truth bullshit that people try to hide behind."

"Alright," I say, quieter than I intend. "What else?"

"No judgement. No matter what we share, we take it for what it is and we move on."

Silence falls over us again, the quiet glug telling me that Tai's taken another sip. "Something tells me you and I are going to be fast friends by the time this week is done."

"Here's hoping," he says, handing the bottle back with a smile.